Cristiano Ronaldo warned by Saudi Pro League amid transfer dispute

Theguardian reports Cristiano Ronaldo has been told by the Saudi Pro League that “no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club” amid a dispute over transfer spending. The Portuguese forward, who turned 41 on Thursday, is believed to be unhappy with Al‑Nassr’s lack of activity in the January transfer window and it was reported he could miss Friday’s match against Al‑Ittihad after not featuring on Monday against Al‑Riyadh.

The league issued a statement emphasising that it is “structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,” saying clubs have their own boards, executives and football leadership and that “decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance.” The statement added that recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence and that the focus remains on football on the pitch.

Saudi Arabia